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Anaheim, CA 92805
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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2025
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF CALTRANS SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING GRANT AWARD – ANAHEIM
CONNECTIONS – LA28 TRANSIT AND MOBILITY PLAN
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 16
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Resolution:
1) Ratify and approve the actions of the Public Works Director, or designee, in submitting a grant application to Caltrans for the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Award (Grant), in the amount of $425,165, with $55,085 in local match, to prepare the Anaheim Connections – LA28 Transit and Mobility Plan; authorize the Public Works Director, or designee, to act as the Agent of the City of Anaheim on all matters concerning the Grant program, including the execution of all required Grant documents; and accept the grant funds on behalf of the City and increase the Public Works Department’s FY 2025/26 revenue and expenditure restricted grant funds budget by $425,165; and 2) Determine that these actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15306 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
DISCUSSION:
On July 1, 2025, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) awarded the Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) $425,165 in Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant (STPG) funds (Grant). The funds were programmed to support the ANNA Bus Rapid Transit and Community Connection Nodes Planning Project, which was primarily focused on conducting public outreach and initial design work, with the goal of having a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in place for the LA28 Olympics.
The Grant also required local match funding in the amount of $55,085, which ATN committed to providing in-kind services (i.e., staff time).
Acceptance of Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Award – Anaheim Connections – LA28 Transit and Mobility Plan December 9, 2025
Since Caltrans awarded these funds, ATN and the City have begun developing a Memorandum of Understanding outlining future operations and governance for ATN. In addition, ATN’s Board of Directors has appointed a new Interim Executive Director.
Given these developments, ATN inquired if the City would consider assuming responsibility for the grant and potentially pursuing a scope change, especially given the City’s concerns about being able to deliver full ANNA BRT service by the 2028 Olympics.
In October 2025, the City agreed with the proposed approach and presented it to Caltrans’s leadership, who concurred that it still aligned with the overall goals specified in ATN’s original grant request. As such, Caltrans requested that the City submit documentation supporting the proposed scope change, which included redirecting efforts from completing preliminary ANNA work, and instead working to develop an executable mobility plan for 2028 Olympic events occurring in and around Anaheim.
The proposed plan will focus on transit and transportation connections to the Honda Center, OCVIBE, and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), and key tasks will include the following components.
Identifying existing and available transportation and transit assets Developing potential scheduling and schedule change recommendations to support events occurring at the Honda Center
Identifying feasible transportation and transit stop amenity improvements Developing potential first/last mile connection concepts and options from parking and transit stops to the Honda Center and other key Anaheim locations Evaluating potential ticket optimization strategies
Establishing global wayfinding signage standards and recommendations In addition to these technical work efforts, extensive coordination with Caltrans, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), ATN, Metrolink, the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, and various other public and private transportation providers will also be required.
Assuming approval of staff’s recommendations, the Study will begin in early 2026 and is planned for completion in 2027. However, to receive these funds, Caltrans requires the City to provide a City Council resolution stating the grant’s project title and the title of the person authorized to enter into a contract with Caltrans. This is the impetus for the recommendations that are before the City Council.
The City Council should also note that the receipt and implementation of this grant award, if approved, is exempt from CEQA under guidelines Section 15306, which pertains to information gathering purposes leading to an action that a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded.
Should the City propose to implement any improvements identified in the Plan, the City will seek future funding or grant opportunities and prepare appropriate environmental analysis for those capital projects.
Acceptance of Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Award – Anaheim Connections – LA28 Transit and Mobility Plan December 9, 2025
The grant award supports the City’s Strategic Plan Goals A & F:
Goal A - Maintain Financial Responsibility
o Strategy 1 – Identify potential new funding sources/revenue to increase City revenues to maintain and enhance services
o Strategy 2 – Continue proactive pursuit of state and federal grant funds Goal F – Promote Economic Development and Tourism
o Strategy 1 – Explore opportunities to maximize the benefits of the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The Public Works Department’s FY 2025/26 revenue and expenditure budget will be increased by $425,165 in restricted grant funds. The required match will be provided by labor available in the Department’s General Fund budget.
Respectfully submitted,
Rudy Emami
Director of Public Works
Attachments:
1. Resolution
2. Award Letter